Report on marine accident with fishing vessel Iselin on Lopphavet, Finnmark on 12 December 2023
Marine report 2024/08
Two fishermen were hauling nets, when one fisherman fell overboard, without a flotation device. A rescue operation was launched, but the victim was not found and is presumed dead.
Fishing vessels are required to have lifejackets on board, but the use of these or other flotation devices is based on the fisherman’s assessment of whether the working deck is exposed or not.
The NSIA believes that the definition of what constitutes an exposed deck is unclear in the regulations and submits one safety recommendation to the Norwegian Maritime Authority.
Published 15.11.2024
Safety recommendation
Safety recommendation Marine no. 2024/26T
On Tuesday 12 December 2023, the fishing vessel Iselin, with a skipper and a fisherman on board, was hauling nets in the Lopphavet Sea. The skipper got the flag buoy on board and placed it behind his back. The fishermen tried to pull in the rope together, but met too much resistance and the skipper who had the flag buoy behind his back was dragged into the sea. The skipper was not wearing a work vest or other flotation vest.
The Regulations concerning the working environment, health and safety of persons working on board ships require persons working on an exposed deck to be equipped with work vests/flotation vests. The definition of an exposed deck is unclear and the requirement can therefore be interpreted as optional depending on whether the fisherman believes the working deck is exposed or not.
The Norwegian Safety Investigation Authority recommends that the Norwegian Maritime Authority clarify the requirements in the Regulations concerning the working environment, health and safety of persons working on board ships, section 9-5, on the use of flotation vests in work operations on exposed decks on fishing vessels, to ensure the risk of falling overboard is taken into account both with regard to the work operation and design of the deck.
Facts
| Location | Lopphavet in Finnmark |
| Occurrence date | 12.12.2023 |
| Accident category | Personal injury |
| Area | Norwegian Territorial Waters |
| Name of vessel | Iselin |
| Accident type | Fatal Accident, Fall over board, Occupational accident |
| Vessel type | Fishing Vessel |
| Register | The Norwegian Ship Register |